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Ashs White Oak Lecture Cryptozoology 101 Rodents Of Unusual Size 241004
The setting of Ash's lecture in the prestigious Spender Arts and Wellness Center sets the stage for an intriguing Cryptozoology 101 course, where attendees are plunged into the depths of Haven's unique ecosystem. Professor Starling, known affectionately as Ash, begins by addressing the class, including Nico, a newcomer whose comprehension of Haven's peculiarities is put to the test. Illyana's casual remark about wiping Nico's memory if necessary adds a lighthearted yet sinister touch to the proceedings, underlining the seriousness of the knowledge being imparted. The attendees, including Jodie and William, contribute to a lively discussion on the definition and significance of cryptozoology, laying the groundwork for Ash's ambitious syllabus which promises field trips to other worlds connected to Haven.
As the class delves into the specifics of creatures from these worlds, Ash uses a practical approach by showcasing actual specimens, starting with Rodents of Unusual Size from the Wild. The lecture covers not only the biological aspects but also the creatures' implications for alchemy and safety in Haven. The discussion seamlessly transitions from the fauna of the Wild to Hell's hellhounds, eliciting a mix of curiosity and dark humor from the audience. Ash's presentation skillfully blends educational content with engagement, urging students like Nico and Illyana to think critically about the creatures' roles in their respective ecosystems. The class's reaction to the specimens, from ROUSes to the divine golden hound, bridges the gap between academic study and the reality of living in a world where the mythical is mundane. Through Ash's guidance, the students are left with a profound respect for the wonders and dangers of Haven's cryptozoological diversity.
The story concludes on a note of anticipation and a hunger for more knowledge, with the promise of future classes that will delve deeper into the cryptids of Haven and the worlds beyond. Ash's ability to captivate and educate their students, combined with the diverse reactions from the class, underscores the importance of understanding and respecting the supernatural elements that define their reality. The lecture not only educates but also builds a sense of community among the students, who share a common goal of navigating the complexities of Haven's unique ecological landscape.
In the majestic Audience Chamber of the Spender Arts and Wellness Center at White Oak, Ash captivates a room full of eager learners with a lecture on Cryptozoology, specifically focusing on Rodents Of Unusual Size and mythical canines. They delve into the speed and stealth of Hell Hounds, described as some of the most perilous of the weaker monsters due to their astounding velocity and ability to surprise the unwary. Transitioning to a more divine note, Ash introduces the golden hound, a creature of the Godrealm, sparking a detailed discussion on the origins of the fey and divine realms facilitated by a student named William. The session underscores the valuable parts of these mythical beings, pointing out that while Hell Hounds' fangs are of great worth, the golden hounds' hearts are the most prized.
As the lecture evolves, students engage with the material in diverse manners, showing varying degrees of attention and interest, with some contemplating deeply on the subject and others seemingly fatigued. Emmanuel, arriving late, and others like Jodie, on the brink of dozing off, illustrate the range of engagement among the attendees. Ash concludes the session with an intriguing assignment that hints at future adventures: locating a bone compass and preparing to explore other worlds, thereby blending the theoretical knowledge shared in the class with a practical, exploratory task. This announcement seems to rejuvenate the room, sparking a mixture of reactions as students gradually start to leave, discussing the class content among themselves. The session ends with personal interactions between Ash and a few individuals, highlighting the community's interconnectedness and the varied reactions to the educational experience provided.
(Ash's [White Oak] Lecture, Cryptozoology 101: Rodents Of Unusual Size)
[Thu Oct 3 2024]
The Audience Chamber of the Spender Arts and Wellness Center at White Oak
The grand, sweeping stage commands attention here, adorned with rich velvet curtains and intricate woodwork that exudes a sense of artistic opulence and cultural sophistication. Rows of plush, upholstered seats fan out from the stage, their rich crimson hues contrasting with the polished, dark wood of the flooring, creating an atmosphere of refined elegance and aesthetic grandeur within the expansive hall. The soft, ambient lighting bathes the space in a warm, inviting glow, highlighting the ornate architectural details and the intricate acoustics. It is about 60F(15C) degrees.
Ash shifts about, ordering some boxes at their feet, before finally speaking up. "Hello, and welcome to Cryptozoology 101. I'm Professor Starling, though you all know me as Ashen or Ash. I think we're all aware here?" Looking to Nico, they ask, "Nico... have you been made aware? I recall telling you about the various 'clubs' in Haven, but I don't know if you've learned anything since then."
Nico glances around, eying the other attendees, before focusing on Ash, "Ah... Yeah, it's been a weird two days. I'm tracking on it, Ashen."
"Guy's about to get his mind blown." Jodie says out loud in regards to Nico. Showing a smirk on her face as she slouches in her seat with her arms crossed.
"I told him to come." Illyana nods to Ash, pointing a thumb at Nico. "Thought he could learn to not get his head ate off by something if he knew what not to get ate bye."
Ash tilts their head before asking more firmly, "I need a more... conclusive question. Are you aware of what makes Haven so special? Otherwise, you may need to leave... well. Nevermind, if Yana takes responsibility. Alright, then! Can anyone tell me what Cryptozoology is?" They give Illyana a nod and a smile, grateful.
"I'll just wipe his noodle if he gets uppity." Illyana brazenly states, leaning back in her seat.
Nico snaps his gaze towards Yana, "No, no... I'm already aware of the basics. Supernaturals, magic, all that. No existential crisis that becomes everyone else's problem here."
William rises a hand slightly, answering without taking his eyes from his phone "It's the study and attempts to prove the existance of cryptids... Animals believed to belong to the occult and stray from the natural laws of the world or, well, just outside of the roster of animals they consider existant... At least by the mundane..."
"As for the question." Illyana doesn't even hold up a hand, how rude. "Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience and subculture that searches for and studies unknown, legendary creatures. But in the context of Haven; That includes the wilds, realms and technically a good majority of people in this room."
William rolls his hand slowly as he goes on "They might come from folklore, stories, religions, myths, sometimes it's just extinct species or unsual individuals... But it is normally- Anomalous animals..."
Ash nods to William, before drawling, "That's right, but do wait for me to call on you next time, Bill, Yana." The admonishment is hardly a scold, they're too cheerful. They nod to Illyana, before They clap their hands, and explain, "So, just in case any of us doesn't know, we have four other worlds connected to us here in Haven. Joel, can you name them?" They seem about to call out to Jodie, but recognize the glaze in her eyes, turning to Joel instead.
Joel blinks a little as Ash calls on him, giving a faint little grimace. "Ah... there's Hell. The Wilds. And uh..." he gives a shamefaced little smile "I've not yet really been off world, so I'm a bit rusty there..."
Ash nods to Joel before announcing to the class, "So, this is a good time to discuss the syllabus - I hope you'll excuse my ADHD teaching methods and habit of skipping around. My plans for this course is to, starting from next session, show you the various creatures found in other worlds, then we explore their anatomies and weaknesses, and finally, on the third dive into each chapter, we will have a field trip to said world, where we can explore the environment each creature is in. This will allow everyone to see these other worlds for themselves, as well as learning how these creatures interact with it, while teaching you the dangers of these worlds. Any questions before we get back on topic?"
William shakes his head slowly
Illyana shrugs.
Ash nods after a pause. "Right. So, there Hell, which is originally called Sirinia. It was a normal world like ours, but sorcerers started fighting, and began fleshforming newer biological soldiers and creatures to be more and more deadly, until the demons who began to grow stronger with the suffering of others became too widespread and powerful, and they had to flee, closing the gate behind them."
Jodie has a sleepy eyed gaze as class goes on. Shes still slouched, arms folded and head slightly dipped while Ash talks and sometimes ask other people questions.
Ash continues, "Then we have The Wilds. A place much like ours in the past, where dinosaurs roam. However, it's been colonized by humans we call Wildlings, and includes some magical creatures such as the boar men, and white wolves." They nod to Joel in recognition before asking Illyana, "What are the other two worlds, Yana?"
"Guard Realm where the god houses are, the major quantity of angelborn and demigods, and the Other where the fae hold court." Illyana answers Ash without a beat.
Nico just kind of sits there, gaze snapping between each speaker as they talk, taking it all in.
Joel dutifully takes notes, oocasionally letting his gaze flicker to the boxes in front.
nods to Illyana, drawling, "Correct, the Godrealm, and the Other. So, today, I'm going to show you some of the creatures found in every world. If you're unfamiliar with them, please feel free to come in and look them over. We're starting with the Wild, where the easiest creature to handle is the rats there."
Ash *finally* starts to dig into the boxes, warning the group, "I jokingly call the Wild 'The DND World' because it's a world of swordplay, knights, and magic. It's the easiest way to explain it to people. And just like in DND, or many other fantasy games, the very first thing you fight is...." They pull out something big, heavy, and furry.
Ash nods to Illyana, drawling, "Correct, the Godrealm, and the Other. So, today, I'm going to show you some of the creatures found in every world. If you're unfamiliar with them, please feel free to come in and look them over. We're starting with the Wild, where the easiest creature to handle is the rats there." Ash *finally* starts to dig into the boxes, warning the group, "I jokingly call the Wild 'The DND World' because it's a world of swordplay, knights, and magic. It's the easiest way to explain it to people. And just like in DND, or many other fantasy games, the very first thing you fight is...." They pull out something big, heavy, and furry.
William glances over at the corpse distractedly, tilting his head to a side and perking an eyebrow
"Oh wow, you just went out and killed Novel." Illyana mentions.
Ash explains, "I like to call them ROUSes... who knows what that means, and where it's from?" Ash nod Sienna
Nico lets out a rumbling laugh, nodding slowly in recognition.
Joel immediately replies "Rodents of Unusual Size. Princess Bride."
Terribly late, Sienna quietly inserts herself into a chair, smiling back at Ash without disrupting the class in progress.
Ash snaps and points to Joel. "Extra credit, sir! Good on you. Right - just means that they're big. Can someone update Sienna on the syllabus? Otherwise, I can get with her after class." They nod to Sienna before asking, "Does anyone want a closer look? I promise it won't bite." They grin.
Nico chimes in, "Rodents of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist..." He trails off, eying the corpse, "Or, at least, that's what I'd like to say."
Ash smirks to Nico. "Fantastic."
"I've seen bigger." Illyana shrugs before coughing into a fist, "Fayad."
Joel quietls gets to his feet and moves a little closer to the displayed corpse, studying it with a noncommital expression.
Jodie's brow lifts at Illyana's words and then she cracks a grin, "Definitely."
Sienna leans forward in her seat, reaching back to playfully rap her knuckles against the back of Jodie's dome. "Hey."
Jodie slightly tips her head forward when her skull is rattled by Sienna's knuckles. She glances over her shoulder with a peeved look till she notices its Sienna. She relaxes then says, "Yo."
William rises his hand a bit, glancing at the creature on display "What is it that allows them to grow that much? They're twice as big as the biggest mundane rodent?"
Ash explains, "One thing is the greater oxygen levels, another is the magic - supernatural creatures can have reinforced bones and hides. However, we'll get more into that next lesson, along with their alchemical components, as well as their individual dangers when they interact with humans." To Joel, as well as the rest, they point out the rat's claws, holding them and flexing the finger-like digits.
"However, I will point out that their claws can be used in potions - I'm no chemist or alchemist, sadly, but I know that you can contribute them at the goblin market for great value to whatever group you donate in the name of."
Sienna raises her hand to catch Ash's attention, wondering after William's question, "Isn't it not because of the unique ecosystems offered where they're uniquely located? Say, for example, the Wilds? They're affected by certain things that aren't found here in the human world."
Ash nods to Sienna, drawling, "This no doubt plays a role, but that's something we will explore in more details when we get there. Remember, magic *is* a part of what makes those worlds unique - Earth doesn't naturally produce magic, it all comes from the gate."
Ash seems to have decided that no one else is coming up, and finishes with, "So, the rats are found in the Wild. Where else can they be found, Jodie?" They motion to Jodie, not leaving her out now that she's hown signs of life.
Jodie blinks as she's called out, brought out of a little daze where she wasn't really listening. Fortunately this question is quite straight forward and easy so she clears her throat then offers, "In the outer forest of haven. Further than seven fifty feet from town. Among other things...or if the mist is high they can be right outside the city limits."
William nods along slowly, eyeing his phone every now and then "Well, naturally, but like... The different ecosystem is a give, what I am curious about is how that impacts it to get the result... Do they have a different organ development? Is it the abundance of some resource? Do they simply somehow metabolize magic into something they can use to develop?"
Ash explained earlier, "One thing is the greater oxygen levels, another is the magic - supernatural creatures can have reinforced bones and hides. However, we'll get more into that next lesson, along with their alchemical components, as well as their individual dangers when they interact with humans." To Joel, as well as the rest, they pointed out the rat's claws, holding them and flexing the finger-like digits.
"However, I will point out that their claws can be used in potions - I'm no chemist or alchemist, sadly, but I know that you can contribute them at the goblin market for great value to whatever group you donate in the name of."
Ash nodded to Sienna, drawling, "This no doubt plays a role, but that's something we will explore in more details when we get there. Remember, magic *is* a part of what makes those worlds unique - Earth doesn't naturally produce magic, it all comes from the gate."
Ash seemed to have decided that no one else is coming up, and finished with, "So, the rats are found in the Wild. Where else can they be found, Jodie?" They motioned to Jodie, not leaving her out now that she had shown signs of life.
"I just said where? Didn't I?" Jodie ask, looking to the people around her for confirmation. Maybe she's having a stroke.
Ash said all this in the past, to everyone in an announcement, and are only now starting anew after her answer.
Ash nods now to Jodie, drawling, "Perfect, thank you. And this is why the outer forests are dangerous, class. They have creatures that go through the smaller gates out into Haven, in addition to their own dangers, like snakes. The biggest problem is that they are not tied to their native ecosystems in Haven's forest, so you may run into a kobold from the Other, then a manticore from the Other."
Ash leans in, dropping their voice in warning. "Do not wander the Outer Forest alone and without a weapon, up to - as Jodie said - 750 feet from town. The magics that ward the town and roads - the same magic that wards the roads in other worlds - generally stop them from coming in further without the mists. Generally. Beware the mists, as well."
Ash nods now to Jodie, drawling, "Perfect, thank you. And this is why the outer forests are dangerous, class. They have creatures that go through the smaller gates out into Haven, in addition to their own dangers, like snakes. The biggest problem is that they are not tied to their native ecosystems in Haven's forest, so you may run into a kobold from the Other, then a manticore from the Other."
Ash leans in, dropping their voice in warning. "Do not wander the Outer Forest alone and without a weapon, up to - as Jodie said - 750 feet from town. The magics that ward the town and roads - the same magic that wards the roads in other worlds - generally stop them from coming in further without the mists. Generally. Beware the mists, as well."
Ash does not move the rat corpse, just in case anyone wants to look at it, and brings out the next corpse from the box. "Speaking of kobolds... these are amongst the weakest creatures in the Other. However, I use terms like 'weak' because they *are* aggressive. They will attempt to attack you. Unlike in DnD, they cannot be reasoned with, so take care if you travel off of the road. They travel in packs, usually, though you might find them solo in the Outer Forest of Haven. Does anyone know what part alchemists like from a kobold?"
Joel remains silent for most of the dissertation, the topic clearly not one he has a lot of experience with. His pen scribbles across his notebook, his gaze only occasionally lifting to glance around the room.
Nico blinks once, eying the newest corpse curiously and letting out a soft 'huh'.
Sienna lends a cursory glance toward the massive rat corpse, edging forward in her seat with macabre curiosity glinting in her eyes. She folds her arms against the back of the chair next to Jodie, listening with interest as Ash continues to lead their class. "I don't know. Maybe a heart or something?" she presumes, chewing her bottom lip with an educated guess.
"It's the penis, its always the penis." Jodie says in a hushed voice as to not disrupt the entire class. Except for everyone at the seating has to hear it.
"The taint, clearly." Illyana adds to Jodie's comment.
Crossing his arms, Elias leans back in his chair, quietly watching the lecture progress, but he remains silent, observing.
"No idea. Tell us and show us the next corpse." Illyana calls from the peanut gallery.
Sienna turns her head with innocently wide eyes at Elias, looking his way, "Is it really the taint?"
"Yes, Sienna. You can tell when you get up really close and inspect it. I would recommend breaking out your scalpel to get right in there. You know, for science." Elias says to Sienna with a deadpan expression as he explains this to her.
Ash shakes their head to Sienna, eyes travelling to Illyana, then settling on Jodie. "No one? It's...." They eye Elias, pretending that there's not an amused smile hiding under the frown they give him. "It's the gallbladder, *actually*. Kobold gallbladders. Anyways, Kobolds, Other, Gallbladders. Any questions? I'm going a bit over the time I wanted to take."
Sienna squints her eyes at Elias with an undercurrent of mistrust, as though expecting the other proverbial shoe to drop. She blinks thrice when Ash reveals the true answer, deflating just a touch when she gets the wrong answer.
Giving a faint shrug over to Sienna with a growing grin on his face, Elias looks to Ash "Oh, Ash, you should have let her figure it out on her own. It would have been an educational experience."
Ash takes that as a no, and gets the next corpse. They lift up a puppy! Well, a dog... a hound. a black one, too. This, like the rat, is too big for a mundane version of it, twice the size of a normal dog. "This, my students, is a Hell Hound. And no, Elias - not if it means misinforming the whole class. The tricks are saved for when I'm *not* teaching." They smirk at him before focusing back on the rest of the class.
They take the dog's head, and faces the class with it, opening its maws to showcase unnaturally and unnecessarily vicious and sharp serrated fangs. "A hell hound is, obviously, from hell. Can anyone guess why its teeth are serrated?"
Ash takes that as a no, and gets the next corpse. They lift up a puppy! Well, a dog... a hound. a black one, too. This, like the rat, is too big for a mundane version of it, twice the size of a normal dog. "This, my students, is a Hell Hound. And no, Elias - not if it means misinforming the whole class. The tricks are saved for when I'm *not* teaching." They smirk at him before focusing back on the rest of the class.
They take the dog's head, and faces the class with it, opening its maws to showcase unnaturally and unnecessarily vicious and sharp serrated fangs. "A hell hound is, obviously, from hell. Can anyone guess why its teeth are serrated?"
"Because it's not a clean cut. It rends rather than severs creating more suffering which it can feed on." Illyana suggests.
Nico raises a tentative hand, before lowering it as Illyana speak. "Took the words right out of my mouth."
Ash lets go of the jaw to snap, and point to Illyana. "Exactly. We remember that every creature that comes from hell is meant to cause suffering, and feed off of it. So, a hell hound doesn't need serrated teeth to hunt - it does so entirely to cause suffering." They give Nico a smile of approval as well, given that Illyana is just particularly fast.
They move on down the hound's body, to its legs. Big paws have sharp, almost feline claws. "Now, ROUSes and kobolds travel in packs, because they're weak, and that is their danger to humans. But hellhounds often travel alone or as mates. Do you know what the danger is with them, Jodie? Or anyone else who thinks they know?" They look to Jodie with an encouraging smile.
Nico raises a tentative hand again.
Jodie hasn't been all that focused on the class so when she catches Ash looking at her she sort of looks uncomfortable and tries to recall the last few sentences Ash just spoke. "Uh, are you trying to talk about impregnating people?"
Illyana smirks. "They like to hump you to death."
Ash looks to Nico, shaking their head to Jodie. "No, we're talking about the dangers of fighting Hell Hounds. Nico, go ahead." There goes her chance to show up Sienna. Perhaps....
Nico seems more than a little uncertain, but ventures a guess regardless, "Ambush predator, going after isolated targets. Their coloration lets them blend in easily with surrounding flora, especially at night, so rather than overwhelm with numbers, they go for a single debilitating strike."
Joel sneaks a glance at his phone, perhaps checking on the time before returning his attention to his notes.
"They feed on specifically mailmen." Illyana decides, already knowing it's wrong. "Because Amazon out-source to the US mail service, which is shit, and then even though you payed for twenty four hour delivery, you never get your package and suffer more because the fucking dog ate it."
Sienna smothers a quiet laugh at Illyana, folding her arms beneath her chin. She tugs on Jodie's ear. "Why are you like this?'"
Jodie grunts softly as her ear is tugged on and she swats at Sienna's hand like she's a mosquito. "You know when you drop an apple too many times it gets all bruised and screwed up?..." thats all she says, its obviously a rhetorical that she never follows up on.
Sienna spares Jodie a bewildered look for the second time since Elias messed with her earlier. "Wha--" she cuts herself off, mouth nestling into an irritated pout, switching her gaze back toward the front of the class.
Ash smiles at Nico, "That is a very good observation, Nico, but not the answer I'm looking for. When fighting them, I've not known them to sneak up to me, but I have better vision than the average human. Perhaps it works when hunting other demons. However, do you have an answer, Jodie? Have you ever fought them, and noted anything particular?"
"Huh?" Jodie goes, when she's called out again, she looks very displeased to be put on the spot again. She uncrosses her arms to point at the dead hound and says, "Thats the only one I ever fought and we shot it to pieces before it got to us. So I dont know anything about it."
Ash nods in understanding to Jodie, and explains to the class with their Tejano-Ebonics drawl, "Fair enough. See, they're fast. Very fast. While you can normally spot something hundreds of feet off, Hell Hounds, or black hounds, are very quick, and will be on you in seconds, if you're not wary. They are perhaps the most dangerous of these 'weak' monsters."
That done, they bring out the last corpse. This, too is a doggo - this one like the cross between a Labrador and a Greyhound. Its fur is as golden as the sun, though... it looks divine. "This is called simply a golden hound, and they're from the Godrealm. However, their special fact is that they can *also* be found in the Other. Does anyone know why that is? This is sort of more a supernatural history question than a biological one.
Ash nods in understanding to Jodie, and explains to the class with their Tejano-Ebonics drawl, "Fair enough. See, they're fast. Very fast. While you can normally spot something hundreds of feet off, Hell Hounds, or black hounds, are very quick, and will be on you in seconds, if you're not wary. They are perhaps the most dangerous of these 'weak' monsters."
That done, they bring out the last corpse. This, too is a doggo - this one like the cross between a Labrador and a Greyhound. Its fur is as golden as the sun, though... it looks divine. "This is called simply a golden hound, and they're from the Godrealm. However, their special fact is that they can *also* be found in the Other. Does anyone know why that is? This is sort of more a supernatural history question than a biological one."
William rises his hand slightly
Ash nods to William. "Bill? Go ahead, thank you for waiting."
William nods slowly "The fey and the divine technically both come from the same place, didn't they? They just branched off at certain point, while the divine decided to remain isolated the fey instead headed over to... Well to The Other I guess, so it makes sense that they had at some point the same kinds of pets, that they took from one place to another with them"
Something about William's words causes Elias to shift in his seat, drawing Elias' attention.
Ash nods to William, drawling, "Exactly right... I don't think I can actually do it any better. Anyways, while the fangs are the most useful part of the Hell Hounds, the most useful item from the golden hounds are actually their hearts. Now, any questions before I assign homework? You may also come and look at the cadavers and these jarred parts that I have on hand, if you like."
Ash looks over their bag, then sighs. "Mmm, I only have the heart. Could have sworn I kept rat claws... I'll just bring them for the next few classes." Looking up, they ask, "Questions? Raise your hand while you formulate your words if you have them."
Fashionably late, or just late, at least, Emmanuel slips into the chamber and makes his way over to claim a seat.
Jodie seems on the verge of nodding off as class comes towards a conclusion. She evidently has no questions.
William shakes his head slowly as well
Nico shakes his head, evidently still letting his mind catch up.
Joel still scribbles in his notebook, brow furrowed, his focus clearly starting to flag as the lecture drags on.
Ash claps their hands. "Alright, in that case, your homework is to find the other gates, and a bone compass. You don't have to buy one, just locate one. However, keep in mind that we *will* be exploring the other worlds in future classes, so it would pay to purchase one in preperation for that. If you already know where the other gates are, and have a compass, then your homework is to obtain one of the alchemical components from these creatures. You don't have to obtain it yourself, but bring it to me at a future session."
Ash to everyone, "Class dismissed!"
"Miss Swann," Jack tells Sienna. "I see you there, unlike most of our recent classes."
William slowly stands up, heading for the exit of the classroom
"Wow," Sienna breathes out at Jack. "That's crazy."
Ash asks Jack and Emmanuel, "Did you have any questions, Father? Emmanuel?"
Sienna scurries out.
Jodie perks up when the class is dismissed. She might've been about to fall asleep in her seat but now that she's free. She looks about to see who also remains. She notices someone snuck in and makes a face. Then she hears Jack's voice and gives him a look
Jodie perks up when the class is dismissed. She might've been about to fall asleep in her seat but now that she's free. She looks about to see who also remains. She notices someone snuck in and makes a face. Then she hears Jack's voice and gives him a look
"Non." Emmanuel notes back to Ash with a shake of his head.
Jodie perks up when the class is dismissed. She might've been about to fall asleep in her seat but now that she's free. She looks about to see who also remains. She notices Emmanuel snuck in and makes a face. Then she hears Jack's voice and gives him a look that seems confused when the girl runs off
Jack smiles at Ash. "No," he tells Ash. "Just checking in to see how your class went, Miss Starling. Well-attended, I see."
As the class delves into the specifics of creatures from these worlds, Ash uses a practical approach by showcasing actual specimens, starting with Rodents of Unusual Size from the Wild. The lecture covers not only the biological aspects but also the creatures' implications for alchemy and safety in Haven. The discussion seamlessly transitions from the fauna of the Wild to Hell's hellhounds, eliciting a mix of curiosity and dark humor from the audience. Ash's presentation skillfully blends educational content with engagement, urging students like Nico and Illyana to think critically about the creatures' roles in their respective ecosystems. The class's reaction to the specimens, from ROUSes to the divine golden hound, bridges the gap between academic study and the reality of living in a world where the mythical is mundane. Through Ash's guidance, the students are left with a profound respect for the wonders and dangers of Haven's cryptozoological diversity.
The story concludes on a note of anticipation and a hunger for more knowledge, with the promise of future classes that will delve deeper into the cryptids of Haven and the worlds beyond. Ash's ability to captivate and educate their students, combined with the diverse reactions from the class, underscores the importance of understanding and respecting the supernatural elements that define their reality. The lecture not only educates but also builds a sense of community among the students, who share a common goal of navigating the complexities of Haven's unique ecological landscape.
In the majestic Audience Chamber of the Spender Arts and Wellness Center at White Oak, Ash captivates a room full of eager learners with a lecture on Cryptozoology, specifically focusing on Rodents Of Unusual Size and mythical canines. They delve into the speed and stealth of Hell Hounds, described as some of the most perilous of the weaker monsters due to their astounding velocity and ability to surprise the unwary. Transitioning to a more divine note, Ash introduces the golden hound, a creature of the Godrealm, sparking a detailed discussion on the origins of the fey and divine realms facilitated by a student named William. The session underscores the valuable parts of these mythical beings, pointing out that while Hell Hounds' fangs are of great worth, the golden hounds' hearts are the most prized.
As the lecture evolves, students engage with the material in diverse manners, showing varying degrees of attention and interest, with some contemplating deeply on the subject and others seemingly fatigued. Emmanuel, arriving late, and others like Jodie, on the brink of dozing off, illustrate the range of engagement among the attendees. Ash concludes the session with an intriguing assignment that hints at future adventures: locating a bone compass and preparing to explore other worlds, thereby blending the theoretical knowledge shared in the class with a practical, exploratory task. This announcement seems to rejuvenate the room, sparking a mixture of reactions as students gradually start to leave, discussing the class content among themselves. The session ends with personal interactions between Ash and a few individuals, highlighting the community's interconnectedness and the varied reactions to the educational experience provided.
(Ash's [White Oak] Lecture, Cryptozoology 101: Rodents Of Unusual Size)
[Thu Oct 3 2024]
The Audience Chamber of the Spender Arts and Wellness Center at White Oak
The grand, sweeping stage commands attention here, adorned with rich velvet curtains and intricate woodwork that exudes a sense of artistic opulence and cultural sophistication. Rows of plush, upholstered seats fan out from the stage, their rich crimson hues contrasting with the polished, dark wood of the flooring, creating an atmosphere of refined elegance and aesthetic grandeur within the expansive hall. The soft, ambient lighting bathes the space in a warm, inviting glow, highlighting the ornate architectural details and the intricate acoustics. It is about 60F(15C) degrees.
Ash shifts about, ordering some boxes at their feet, before finally speaking up. "Hello, and welcome to Cryptozoology 101. I'm Professor Starling, though you all know me as Ashen or Ash. I think we're all aware here?" Looking to Nico, they ask, "Nico... have you been made aware? I recall telling you about the various 'clubs' in Haven, but I don't know if you've learned anything since then."
Nico glances around, eying the other attendees, before focusing on Ash, "Ah... Yeah, it's been a weird two days. I'm tracking on it, Ashen."
"Guy's about to get his mind blown." Jodie says out loud in regards to Nico. Showing a smirk on her face as she slouches in her seat with her arms crossed.
"I told him to come." Illyana nods to Ash, pointing a thumb at Nico. "Thought he could learn to not get his head ate off by something if he knew what not to get ate bye."
Ash tilts their head before asking more firmly, "I need a more... conclusive question. Are you aware of what makes Haven so special? Otherwise, you may need to leave... well. Nevermind, if Yana takes responsibility. Alright, then! Can anyone tell me what Cryptozoology is?" They give Illyana a nod and a smile, grateful.
"I'll just wipe his noodle if he gets uppity." Illyana brazenly states, leaning back in her seat.
Nico snaps his gaze towards Yana, "No, no... I'm already aware of the basics. Supernaturals, magic, all that. No existential crisis that becomes everyone else's problem here."
William rises a hand slightly, answering without taking his eyes from his phone "It's the study and attempts to prove the existance of cryptids... Animals believed to belong to the occult and stray from the natural laws of the world or, well, just outside of the roster of animals they consider existant... At least by the mundane..."
"As for the question." Illyana doesn't even hold up a hand, how rude. "Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience and subculture that searches for and studies unknown, legendary creatures. But in the context of Haven; That includes the wilds, realms and technically a good majority of people in this room."
William rolls his hand slowly as he goes on "They might come from folklore, stories, religions, myths, sometimes it's just extinct species or unsual individuals... But it is normally- Anomalous animals..."
Ash nods to William, before drawling, "That's right, but do wait for me to call on you next time, Bill, Yana." The admonishment is hardly a scold, they're too cheerful. They nod to Illyana, before They clap their hands, and explain, "So, just in case any of us doesn't know, we have four other worlds connected to us here in Haven. Joel, can you name them?" They seem about to call out to Jodie, but recognize the glaze in her eyes, turning to Joel instead.
Joel blinks a little as Ash calls on him, giving a faint little grimace. "Ah... there's Hell. The Wilds. And uh..." he gives a shamefaced little smile "I've not yet really been off world, so I'm a bit rusty there..."
Ash nods to Joel before announcing to the class, "So, this is a good time to discuss the syllabus - I hope you'll excuse my ADHD teaching methods and habit of skipping around. My plans for this course is to, starting from next session, show you the various creatures found in other worlds, then we explore their anatomies and weaknesses, and finally, on the third dive into each chapter, we will have a field trip to said world, where we can explore the environment each creature is in. This will allow everyone to see these other worlds for themselves, as well as learning how these creatures interact with it, while teaching you the dangers of these worlds. Any questions before we get back on topic?"
William shakes his head slowly
Illyana shrugs.
Ash nods after a pause. "Right. So, there Hell, which is originally called Sirinia. It was a normal world like ours, but sorcerers started fighting, and began fleshforming newer biological soldiers and creatures to be more and more deadly, until the demons who began to grow stronger with the suffering of others became too widespread and powerful, and they had to flee, closing the gate behind them."
Jodie has a sleepy eyed gaze as class goes on. Shes still slouched, arms folded and head slightly dipped while Ash talks and sometimes ask other people questions.
Ash continues, "Then we have The Wilds. A place much like ours in the past, where dinosaurs roam. However, it's been colonized by humans we call Wildlings, and includes some magical creatures such as the boar men, and white wolves." They nod to Joel in recognition before asking Illyana, "What are the other two worlds, Yana?"
"Guard Realm where the god houses are, the major quantity of angelborn and demigods, and the Other where the fae hold court." Illyana answers Ash without a beat.
Nico just kind of sits there, gaze snapping between each speaker as they talk, taking it all in.
Joel dutifully takes notes, oocasionally letting his gaze flicker to the boxes in front.
nods to Illyana, drawling, "Correct, the Godrealm, and the Other. So, today, I'm going to show you some of the creatures found in every world. If you're unfamiliar with them, please feel free to come in and look them over. We're starting with the Wild, where the easiest creature to handle is the rats there."
Ash *finally* starts to dig into the boxes, warning the group, "I jokingly call the Wild 'The DND World' because it's a world of swordplay, knights, and magic. It's the easiest way to explain it to people. And just like in DND, or many other fantasy games, the very first thing you fight is...." They pull out something big, heavy, and furry.
Ash nods to Illyana, drawling, "Correct, the Godrealm, and the Other. So, today, I'm going to show you some of the creatures found in every world. If you're unfamiliar with them, please feel free to come in and look them over. We're starting with the Wild, where the easiest creature to handle is the rats there." Ash *finally* starts to dig into the boxes, warning the group, "I jokingly call the Wild 'The DND World' because it's a world of swordplay, knights, and magic. It's the easiest way to explain it to people. And just like in DND, or many other fantasy games, the very first thing you fight is...." They pull out something big, heavy, and furry.
William glances over at the corpse distractedly, tilting his head to a side and perking an eyebrow
"Oh wow, you just went out and killed Novel." Illyana mentions.
Ash explains, "I like to call them ROUSes... who knows what that means, and where it's from?" Ash nod Sienna
Nico lets out a rumbling laugh, nodding slowly in recognition.
Joel immediately replies "Rodents of Unusual Size. Princess Bride."
Terribly late, Sienna quietly inserts herself into a chair, smiling back at Ash without disrupting the class in progress.
Ash snaps and points to Joel. "Extra credit, sir! Good on you. Right - just means that they're big. Can someone update Sienna on the syllabus? Otherwise, I can get with her after class." They nod to Sienna before asking, "Does anyone want a closer look? I promise it won't bite." They grin.
Nico chimes in, "Rodents of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist..." He trails off, eying the corpse, "Or, at least, that's what I'd like to say."
Ash smirks to Nico. "Fantastic."
"I've seen bigger." Illyana shrugs before coughing into a fist, "Fayad."
Joel quietls gets to his feet and moves a little closer to the displayed corpse, studying it with a noncommital expression.
Jodie's brow lifts at Illyana's words and then she cracks a grin, "Definitely."
Sienna leans forward in her seat, reaching back to playfully rap her knuckles against the back of Jodie's dome. "Hey."
Jodie slightly tips her head forward when her skull is rattled by Sienna's knuckles. She glances over her shoulder with a peeved look till she notices its Sienna. She relaxes then says, "Yo."
William rises his hand a bit, glancing at the creature on display "What is it that allows them to grow that much? They're twice as big as the biggest mundane rodent?"
Ash explains, "One thing is the greater oxygen levels, another is the magic - supernatural creatures can have reinforced bones and hides. However, we'll get more into that next lesson, along with their alchemical components, as well as their individual dangers when they interact with humans." To Joel, as well as the rest, they point out the rat's claws, holding them and flexing the finger-like digits.
"However, I will point out that their claws can be used in potions - I'm no chemist or alchemist, sadly, but I know that you can contribute them at the goblin market for great value to whatever group you donate in the name of."
Sienna raises her hand to catch Ash's attention, wondering after William's question, "Isn't it not because of the unique ecosystems offered where they're uniquely located? Say, for example, the Wilds? They're affected by certain things that aren't found here in the human world."
Ash nods to Sienna, drawling, "This no doubt plays a role, but that's something we will explore in more details when we get there. Remember, magic *is* a part of what makes those worlds unique - Earth doesn't naturally produce magic, it all comes from the gate."
Ash seems to have decided that no one else is coming up, and finishes with, "So, the rats are found in the Wild. Where else can they be found, Jodie?" They motion to Jodie, not leaving her out now that she's hown signs of life.
Jodie blinks as she's called out, brought out of a little daze where she wasn't really listening. Fortunately this question is quite straight forward and easy so she clears her throat then offers, "In the outer forest of haven. Further than seven fifty feet from town. Among other things...or if the mist is high they can be right outside the city limits."
William nods along slowly, eyeing his phone every now and then "Well, naturally, but like... The different ecosystem is a give, what I am curious about is how that impacts it to get the result... Do they have a different organ development? Is it the abundance of some resource? Do they simply somehow metabolize magic into something they can use to develop?"
Ash explained earlier, "One thing is the greater oxygen levels, another is the magic - supernatural creatures can have reinforced bones and hides. However, we'll get more into that next lesson, along with their alchemical components, as well as their individual dangers when they interact with humans." To Joel, as well as the rest, they pointed out the rat's claws, holding them and flexing the finger-like digits.
"However, I will point out that their claws can be used in potions - I'm no chemist or alchemist, sadly, but I know that you can contribute them at the goblin market for great value to whatever group you donate in the name of."
Ash nodded to Sienna, drawling, "This no doubt plays a role, but that's something we will explore in more details when we get there. Remember, magic *is* a part of what makes those worlds unique - Earth doesn't naturally produce magic, it all comes from the gate."
Ash seemed to have decided that no one else is coming up, and finished with, "So, the rats are found in the Wild. Where else can they be found, Jodie?" They motioned to Jodie, not leaving her out now that she had shown signs of life.
"I just said where? Didn't I?" Jodie ask, looking to the people around her for confirmation. Maybe she's having a stroke.
Ash said all this in the past, to everyone in an announcement, and are only now starting anew after her answer.
Ash nods now to Jodie, drawling, "Perfect, thank you. And this is why the outer forests are dangerous, class. They have creatures that go through the smaller gates out into Haven, in addition to their own dangers, like snakes. The biggest problem is that they are not tied to their native ecosystems in Haven's forest, so you may run into a kobold from the Other, then a manticore from the Other."
Ash leans in, dropping their voice in warning. "Do not wander the Outer Forest alone and without a weapon, up to - as Jodie said - 750 feet from town. The magics that ward the town and roads - the same magic that wards the roads in other worlds - generally stop them from coming in further without the mists. Generally. Beware the mists, as well."
Ash nods now to Jodie, drawling, "Perfect, thank you. And this is why the outer forests are dangerous, class. They have creatures that go through the smaller gates out into Haven, in addition to their own dangers, like snakes. The biggest problem is that they are not tied to their native ecosystems in Haven's forest, so you may run into a kobold from the Other, then a manticore from the Other."
Ash leans in, dropping their voice in warning. "Do not wander the Outer Forest alone and without a weapon, up to - as Jodie said - 750 feet from town. The magics that ward the town and roads - the same magic that wards the roads in other worlds - generally stop them from coming in further without the mists. Generally. Beware the mists, as well."
Ash does not move the rat corpse, just in case anyone wants to look at it, and brings out the next corpse from the box. "Speaking of kobolds... these are amongst the weakest creatures in the Other. However, I use terms like 'weak' because they *are* aggressive. They will attempt to attack you. Unlike in DnD, they cannot be reasoned with, so take care if you travel off of the road. They travel in packs, usually, though you might find them solo in the Outer Forest of Haven. Does anyone know what part alchemists like from a kobold?"
Joel remains silent for most of the dissertation, the topic clearly not one he has a lot of experience with. His pen scribbles across his notebook, his gaze only occasionally lifting to glance around the room.
Nico blinks once, eying the newest corpse curiously and letting out a soft 'huh'.
Sienna lends a cursory glance toward the massive rat corpse, edging forward in her seat with macabre curiosity glinting in her eyes. She folds her arms against the back of the chair next to Jodie, listening with interest as Ash continues to lead their class. "I don't know. Maybe a heart or something?" she presumes, chewing her bottom lip with an educated guess.
"It's the penis, its always the penis." Jodie says in a hushed voice as to not disrupt the entire class. Except for everyone at the seating has to hear it.
"The taint, clearly." Illyana adds to Jodie's comment.
Crossing his arms, Elias leans back in his chair, quietly watching the lecture progress, but he remains silent, observing.
"No idea. Tell us and show us the next corpse." Illyana calls from the peanut gallery.
Sienna turns her head with innocently wide eyes at Elias, looking his way, "Is it really the taint?"
"Yes, Sienna. You can tell when you get up really close and inspect it. I would recommend breaking out your scalpel to get right in there. You know, for science." Elias says to Sienna with a deadpan expression as he explains this to her.
Ash shakes their head to Sienna, eyes travelling to Illyana, then settling on Jodie. "No one? It's...." They eye Elias, pretending that there's not an amused smile hiding under the frown they give him. "It's the gallbladder, *actually*. Kobold gallbladders. Anyways, Kobolds, Other, Gallbladders. Any questions? I'm going a bit over the time I wanted to take."
Sienna squints her eyes at Elias with an undercurrent of mistrust, as though expecting the other proverbial shoe to drop. She blinks thrice when Ash reveals the true answer, deflating just a touch when she gets the wrong answer.
Giving a faint shrug over to Sienna with a growing grin on his face, Elias looks to Ash "Oh, Ash, you should have let her figure it out on her own. It would have been an educational experience."
Ash takes that as a no, and gets the next corpse. They lift up a puppy! Well, a dog... a hound. a black one, too. This, like the rat, is too big for a mundane version of it, twice the size of a normal dog. "This, my students, is a Hell Hound. And no, Elias - not if it means misinforming the whole class. The tricks are saved for when I'm *not* teaching." They smirk at him before focusing back on the rest of the class.
They take the dog's head, and faces the class with it, opening its maws to showcase unnaturally and unnecessarily vicious and sharp serrated fangs. "A hell hound is, obviously, from hell. Can anyone guess why its teeth are serrated?"
Ash takes that as a no, and gets the next corpse. They lift up a puppy! Well, a dog... a hound. a black one, too. This, like the rat, is too big for a mundane version of it, twice the size of a normal dog. "This, my students, is a Hell Hound. And no, Elias - not if it means misinforming the whole class. The tricks are saved for when I'm *not* teaching." They smirk at him before focusing back on the rest of the class.
They take the dog's head, and faces the class with it, opening its maws to showcase unnaturally and unnecessarily vicious and sharp serrated fangs. "A hell hound is, obviously, from hell. Can anyone guess why its teeth are serrated?"
"Because it's not a clean cut. It rends rather than severs creating more suffering which it can feed on." Illyana suggests.
Nico raises a tentative hand, before lowering it as Illyana speak. "Took the words right out of my mouth."
Ash lets go of the jaw to snap, and point to Illyana. "Exactly. We remember that every creature that comes from hell is meant to cause suffering, and feed off of it. So, a hell hound doesn't need serrated teeth to hunt - it does so entirely to cause suffering." They give Nico a smile of approval as well, given that Illyana is just particularly fast.
They move on down the hound's body, to its legs. Big paws have sharp, almost feline claws. "Now, ROUSes and kobolds travel in packs, because they're weak, and that is their danger to humans. But hellhounds often travel alone or as mates. Do you know what the danger is with them, Jodie? Or anyone else who thinks they know?" They look to Jodie with an encouraging smile.
Nico raises a tentative hand again.
Jodie hasn't been all that focused on the class so when she catches Ash looking at her she sort of looks uncomfortable and tries to recall the last few sentences Ash just spoke. "Uh, are you trying to talk about impregnating people?"
Illyana smirks. "They like to hump you to death."
Ash looks to Nico, shaking their head to Jodie. "No, we're talking about the dangers of fighting Hell Hounds. Nico, go ahead." There goes her chance to show up Sienna. Perhaps....
Nico seems more than a little uncertain, but ventures a guess regardless, "Ambush predator, going after isolated targets. Their coloration lets them blend in easily with surrounding flora, especially at night, so rather than overwhelm with numbers, they go for a single debilitating strike."
Joel sneaks a glance at his phone, perhaps checking on the time before returning his attention to his notes.
"They feed on specifically mailmen." Illyana decides, already knowing it's wrong. "Because Amazon out-source to the US mail service, which is shit, and then even though you payed for twenty four hour delivery, you never get your package and suffer more because the fucking dog ate it."
Sienna smothers a quiet laugh at Illyana, folding her arms beneath her chin. She tugs on Jodie's ear. "Why are you like this?'"
Jodie grunts softly as her ear is tugged on and she swats at Sienna's hand like she's a mosquito. "You know when you drop an apple too many times it gets all bruised and screwed up?..." thats all she says, its obviously a rhetorical that she never follows up on.
Sienna spares Jodie a bewildered look for the second time since Elias messed with her earlier. "Wha--" she cuts herself off, mouth nestling into an irritated pout, switching her gaze back toward the front of the class.
Ash smiles at Nico, "That is a very good observation, Nico, but not the answer I'm looking for. When fighting them, I've not known them to sneak up to me, but I have better vision than the average human. Perhaps it works when hunting other demons. However, do you have an answer, Jodie? Have you ever fought them, and noted anything particular?"
"Huh?" Jodie goes, when she's called out again, she looks very displeased to be put on the spot again. She uncrosses her arms to point at the dead hound and says, "Thats the only one I ever fought and we shot it to pieces before it got to us. So I dont know anything about it."
Ash nods in understanding to Jodie, and explains to the class with their Tejano-Ebonics drawl, "Fair enough. See, they're fast. Very fast. While you can normally spot something hundreds of feet off, Hell Hounds, or black hounds, are very quick, and will be on you in seconds, if you're not wary. They are perhaps the most dangerous of these 'weak' monsters."
That done, they bring out the last corpse. This, too is a doggo - this one like the cross between a Labrador and a Greyhound. Its fur is as golden as the sun, though... it looks divine. "This is called simply a golden hound, and they're from the Godrealm. However, their special fact is that they can *also* be found in the Other. Does anyone know why that is? This is sort of more a supernatural history question than a biological one.
Ash nods in understanding to Jodie, and explains to the class with their Tejano-Ebonics drawl, "Fair enough. See, they're fast. Very fast. While you can normally spot something hundreds of feet off, Hell Hounds, or black hounds, are very quick, and will be on you in seconds, if you're not wary. They are perhaps the most dangerous of these 'weak' monsters."
That done, they bring out the last corpse. This, too is a doggo - this one like the cross between a Labrador and a Greyhound. Its fur is as golden as the sun, though... it looks divine. "This is called simply a golden hound, and they're from the Godrealm. However, their special fact is that they can *also* be found in the Other. Does anyone know why that is? This is sort of more a supernatural history question than a biological one."
William rises his hand slightly
Ash nods to William. "Bill? Go ahead, thank you for waiting."
William nods slowly "The fey and the divine technically both come from the same place, didn't they? They just branched off at certain point, while the divine decided to remain isolated the fey instead headed over to... Well to The Other I guess, so it makes sense that they had at some point the same kinds of pets, that they took from one place to another with them"
Something about William's words causes Elias to shift in his seat, drawing Elias' attention.
Ash nods to William, drawling, "Exactly right... I don't think I can actually do it any better. Anyways, while the fangs are the most useful part of the Hell Hounds, the most useful item from the golden hounds are actually their hearts. Now, any questions before I assign homework? You may also come and look at the cadavers and these jarred parts that I have on hand, if you like."
Ash looks over their bag, then sighs. "Mmm, I only have the heart. Could have sworn I kept rat claws... I'll just bring them for the next few classes." Looking up, they ask, "Questions? Raise your hand while you formulate your words if you have them."
Fashionably late, or just late, at least, Emmanuel slips into the chamber and makes his way over to claim a seat.
Jodie seems on the verge of nodding off as class comes towards a conclusion. She evidently has no questions.
William shakes his head slowly as well
Nico shakes his head, evidently still letting his mind catch up.
Joel still scribbles in his notebook, brow furrowed, his focus clearly starting to flag as the lecture drags on.
Ash claps their hands. "Alright, in that case, your homework is to find the other gates, and a bone compass. You don't have to buy one, just locate one. However, keep in mind that we *will* be exploring the other worlds in future classes, so it would pay to purchase one in preperation for that. If you already know where the other gates are, and have a compass, then your homework is to obtain one of the alchemical components from these creatures. You don't have to obtain it yourself, but bring it to me at a future session."
Ash to everyone, "Class dismissed!"
"Miss Swann," Jack tells Sienna. "I see you there, unlike most of our recent classes."
William slowly stands up, heading for the exit of the classroom
"Wow," Sienna breathes out at Jack. "That's crazy."
Ash asks Jack and Emmanuel, "Did you have any questions, Father? Emmanuel?"
Sienna scurries out.
Jodie perks up when the class is dismissed. She might've been about to fall asleep in her seat but now that she's free. She looks about to see who also remains. She notices someone snuck in and makes a face. Then she hears Jack's voice and gives him a look
Jodie perks up when the class is dismissed. She might've been about to fall asleep in her seat but now that she's free. She looks about to see who also remains. She notices someone snuck in and makes a face. Then she hears Jack's voice and gives him a look
"Non." Emmanuel notes back to Ash with a shake of his head.
Jodie perks up when the class is dismissed. She might've been about to fall asleep in her seat but now that she's free. She looks about to see who also remains. She notices Emmanuel snuck in and makes a face. Then she hears Jack's voice and gives him a look that seems confused when the girl runs off
Jack smiles at Ash. "No," he tells Ash. "Just checking in to see how your class went, Miss Starling. Well-attended, I see."